Dual packaging system with child resistance and senior friendly features

ABSTRACT

A two-piece package for housing and dispensing a unit dose product. The product to be dispensed is contained on an internal slide card that is removably and lockably engaged within an outer sleeve. The package provides a child resistant and user-friendly dosing means that can be opened and closed numerous times while in use, then disposed of when all the unit doses are exhausted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A dual dose package according to the embodiments of the invention iscomposed of a pair of internal slide cards and an outer sleeve. Theouter sleeve and the internal slide cards may be cut from any suitablematerial, for example plastic, paperboard or, if desired a laminate ofpaperboard and another foldable material, for example a foil or apolymeric film. The selection of this substrate may be made according tothe packaging need, and accordingly, a substrate material generallyrecognized as safe (GRAS) by the FDA is also within the scope of theinvention. In certain embodiments, the substrate may be selected from asheet of bleached sulfate board, solid unbleached sulfate board (SUS),clay-coated newsback (CCNB), or any other suitable board substrate, sucha substrate preferably ranging in thickness from about 0.008 inches upto about 0.050 inches. For example, the paperboard may be clay coated onone side (C1S) or on both sides (C2S), with a coating such as afluidized blend of mineral pigments selected from coating clay, calciumcarbonate and/or titanium dioxide with starch or adhesive, or variouscombinations of these materials. Successive densification and polishing(via calendering) finishes each coated surface to a high degree ofsmoothness and renders it suitable for graphics printing of superiorquality.

In a first embodiment, the outer sleeve includes a pair of side panelsand an inner partition panel forming the wider surfaces of the package,these side panels and the inner partition panel being operativelyconnected by a plurality of hinge panels. The design of the outer sleevecreates two chambers that can each accommodate a separate inner slidecard. Each of the side panels includes a slide card locking mechanism,while a pair of extension panels that provide for a false bottom to theouter sleeve include a releasing mechanism. The slide card lockingmechanism can be in the form of a release button located in the sidepanels, while the slide card locking means can be composed of a cut awayregion that includes a node for engaging an extension of the internalslide card in the extension panel.

Depending on the choice of substrate material, another means ofimproving the impenetrability of the sleeve involves lamination of atleast a part of one or both sides of the blank with a polymer film. Inthis manner, the exterior of the package is made more resistant totearing. Optionally, this lamination may not extend over the entiresurface of the sleeve blank. For example, only tear prone regions mayrequire lamination. Suitable laminating materials may, for example, beselected from biaxially oriented or cross-laminated polymeric films suchas high density polyethylene (HDPE), polyolefins, polyesters, e.g.Mylar™, or combinations thereof. In a related embodiment, tearresistance may be provided at stress points such as the package cornersand exposed edges by applying one or more strips of the polymeric film,e.g. as a tape, over these areas. In either aspect, the polymeric filmmay be applied by extrusion or adhesive lamination, or by any othersuitable means known in the art, typically to the side that is theinterior surface of the blank. It has been found that this treatmentsignificantly increases tear resistance and prevents tear propagation inthe outer sleeve. Preferably, neither the complete laminate film nor theselectively applied film strips will detract from the package'saesthetic appearance or interfere with printability or any of the otherdesirable display features. Text or graphic information may be printedon the sleeve or on the surfaces of the internal slide card according toany means conventionally known in the art.

The outer sleeve of the package provides additional protection for theinternal slide cards, which houses the unit dose product being used. Theinternal slide cards include a stop feature, typically a foldedextension thereof, that engages with a catch feature, typically also afolded extension, on the outer sleeve, to prevent the user from pullingthe internal slide cards completely away from the outer sleeve.

Optionally, other means for improving the structural integrity of theoverall package may be incorporated. Such features include lamination ofthe slide card with a polymeric film, as described above, which alsoimproves tear resistance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan drawing of an outer sleeve according to a firstembodiment.

FIG. 2 is a first isometric view of a package according to the firstembodiment.

FIG. 3 is a second isometric view of a package according to the firstembodiment.

FIG. 4 is a third isometric view of a package according to the firstembodiment.

FIG. 5 is a plan drawing of an outer sleeve according to a secondembodiment.

FIG. 6 is a first isometric view of a package according to the secondembodiment.

FIG. 7 is a second isometric view of a package according to the secondembodiment.

FIG. 8 is a third isometric view of a package according to the secondembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments shown and described herein offer the ability to includemultiple internal slide cards that contain the unit doses into a singlepackaging solution. This type of packaging increases the number of unitdoses that can be included in a packaging solution and maintains thechild safety and senior friendly aspects while significantly reducingthe materials required to package the unit doses.

FIG. 1 is a plan drawing of an outer sleeve according to a firstembodiment. An outer sleeve is formed from a blank 100 that is scored toform a pair of side panels 10, 20, an inner partition panel 30, a pairof hinge panels 15, a pair of inner partition hinge panels 25, a firstpair of scored extension panels 35, and a second pair of extensionpanels 40.

To form the outer sleeve, one of the inner partition hinge panels 25 isfolded at a right angle to side panel 20. The inner partition panel 30is then folded at a right angle to the folded inner partition hingepanel 25 such that inner partition panel 30 is parallel to and beneathside panel 20. The other inner partition hinge panel 25 is then foldedat a right angle downward from the inner partition panel 30. Next, thehinge panel 15 that is coupled with both side panels 10, 20 is folded ata right angle downward. This hinge panel 15 is approximately twice thewidth of the inner partition hinge panel 25. Thus, it extends downwardsuch that the inner partition panel intersects the hinge panel 15perpendicularly about midway its width. Side panel 10 is then folded ata right angle such that it is now parallel to and beneath innerpartition panel 30 and side panel 20. The other hinge panel 15 is thenfolded at a right angle upwards and can be secured (e.g., using anadhesive) against the opposite edge of side panel 20 so that itcompletes a three dimensional rectangular box.

The first pair of scored extension panels 35 each extend from one end ofside panels 10 and 20 respectively. These scored extension panels 35further include locking mechanisms that are designed to maintain a slidecard insert firmly in place. The locking mechanism is comprised of acut-away area 45 in the extension panel 35 having a node 50. The scoredextension panels 35 are folded along the score lines and inserted andsecured within respective chambers defined by outer sleeve progressionof side panel 10, inner partition panel 30, and side panel 20. Uponinsertion, the scored extension panels form a bottom for the overallpackage. The locking mechanisms (cut-away area 45 and node 50) are nowwithin a defined chamber and can operatively couple with a slide cardinsert when one is inserted into the chamber.

The second pair of extension panels 40 each extend from the opposite endof side panels 10 and 20 respectively. These extension panels 40 furtherinclude a cut out notch 55. These extension panels 40 are folded beneathand tucked into the openings of the chambers defined by the side panels10, 20 and inner partition panel 30. These extension panels 40 are notsealed to any particular surface within the chamber. The cut out notch55 is essentially circular wherein half of the circle resides on theside panel 10, 20 and the other half resides on the extension panel 40.When the extension panels 40 are folded into the chamber opening thenotch 55 becomes a semi-circular cut-out that exposes the slide cardinsert enough that a user can grasp and pull the slide card insert outfrom the sleeve. The main purpose of these extension panels 40 is toserve as a retaining element for a slide card insert. When a slide cardinsert is pulled outward, it will extend until a reciprocal element onthe slide card insert engages the extension panel 40.

Each side panel 10, 20 further includes a release mechanism in the formof a release button 60. To release a slide card insert so that it can bewithdrawn from its chamber within the outer sleeve, the usersimultaneously grasps the slide card insert with one hand via notch 55and depresses the release button 60 with his other hand. The releasebutton 60 pushes downward on the slide card insert to unhook it from thelocking mechanism 45, 50 situated on extension panel 35.

While not shown, the open end of the defined chambers can be temporarilysealed such that the seal must be removed before a slide card can beaccessed. This would prevent access to the slide card contents prior topurchase for certain over-the-counter (OTC) products that utilize thispackaging. The end can be sealed with, for instance, a tuck closure, aperforated tear-away panel, a security taped panel, etc.

FIG. 2 is a first isometric view of a package according to the firstembodiment. This figure shows the outer sleeve fully formed andcontaining a pair of internal slide cards 70, 80. The release button 60and notch 55 are visible on side panel 10.

FIG. 3 is a second isometric view of a package according to the firstembodiment. This view is similar to FIG. 2 but further shows theinternal slide cards 70, 80 partially removed from the outer sleeve.

FIG. 4 is a third isometric view of a package according to the firstembodiment. This view is similar to FIGS. 2 and 3. This time theinternal slide cards 70, 80 are shown fully removed from the outersleeve such that the individual doses stored on the internal slide cardsare exposed and accessible.

FIG. 5 is a plan drawing of an outer sleeve according to a secondembodiment. In this embodiment, two separate outer sleeve packages arejoined together along a common hinge line 570. The outer sleeves areformed from a blank 500 that is scored to form six panels. Each outersleeve includes three of the panels separated by a common hinge suchthat one set of three panels is an inverted mirror image of the otherset of three panels. To form one of the outer sleeves, a first panel510A is folded beneath and secured, for example using an adhesive,beneath a second panel 530A, such that panel 510A is positioned withinthe interior of the formed outer sleeve. The side panels 510A, 520A,530A are each separated by a set of hinge panels 515A. The hinge panels515A provide a depth element to the outer sleeve and create an innerchamber adapted to receive and house an inner slide card containing unitdoses.

The panel 510A includes a panel extension 525A, which acts as a stoppingdevice that prevents an internal slide card from being withdrawncompletely from the outer sleeve. A third panel 520A includes anadditional extension 540A, which may be folded toward the center ofpanel 520A to form a bottom that strengthens the package and thusrenders it more tamper resistant. Extension panel 545A will overlap andbe secured to extension panel 540A to complete the bottom of the outersleeve packaging. Panel 510A additionally includes a cut away area 560Ahaving a node 555A. The cut away area 560A, node 555A, and a releasebutton 565A, and an extension panel 525A together form the lockingassembly for the package. The locking mechanism operates similarly tothat described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,829, herein incorporated byreference. The blank 500 also includes a cutaway area 550A, which, whenfolded together, form a notch that is paired with notch 552A.

The opposite side panels 510B, 520B, 530B as wells as hinge panels 515Bare folded in the same fashion as described above to form the secondouter sleeve. Once folded, there will be two separate outer sleeve unitsthat are inseparably joined along a common hinge line 570. Each outersleeve is capable of housing an internal slide card.

The locking mechanisms 555A, 560A, 555B, 560B operate in conjunctionwith release buttons 565A, 565B as described above with respect to FIGS.1-4. Similarly, extension panels 535A, 535B serve to retain the internalslide cards from being completely extracted from within the chambersdefined by the outer sleeves.

FIG. 6 is a first isometric view of a package according to the secondembodiment. This view shows both outer sleeves joined at a common hingeline partially separated from one another. On the upper outer sleeve,side panel 530A is visible and includes release button 565A and notch552A. One of the hinge panels 515A as well as extension panel 545A thatforms a bottom are also visible. On the lower outer sleeve, side panel520B, hinge panel 515B, and notch 552B are visible.

FIG. 7 is a second isometric view of a package according to the secondembodiment. This view shows both outer sleeves joined at a common hingeline 570 with no separation from one another. On the upper outer sleeve,side panel 530A is visible and includes release button 565A and notch552A. One of the hinge panels 515A is also visible. On the lower outersleeve, hinge panel 515B, and as well as extension panel 545B that formsa bottom are visible.

FIG. 8 is a third isometric view of a package according to the secondembodiment. FIG. 8 is the same as FIG. 7 but it also illustrates theinternal slide cards 580A, 580B withdrawn from the outer sleeve chambersto the extent that the unit doses contained on the internal slide cards580A, 580B are exposed and accessible.

The description above has made reference to slide cards that can beinserted and withdrawn from the packaging. The slide cards generallyhold a plurality of unit doses contained within what is commonlyreferred to as blister packs. Thus, the slide cards may take the form ofsolely a blister pack, a blister pack heat sealed to a substrate, ablister pack glued (e.g., hot melted) to a substrate, or a blister packencased by a slotted substrate.

The package of the present invention offers advantages in that it canaccommodate two blister pack containing internal slide cards, islightweight, tamper resistant, senior friendly, durable, easy toassemble, offers protection of each unit dose until it is consumed, andis economical. Moreover, the invention provides a child resistant yetuser-friendly unit dose packaging container, which may be used tocontain and dispense a variety of contents. The improved tamperresistant features of the package may be attributed, at least in part,to the presence of the false bottom structural support, the offset notchplacement and the use of partially or fully laminated structuralmaterials in construction of the package sleeve and slide card.Suitably, the package may, for example, be used to store pharmaceuticalspreparations requiring repeat periodic dosage regimens. As used herein,the term “pharmaceutical preparation” is intended to include prescribedor over the counter drugs or supplements, vitamins or other medicaments,or any other materials suitable for containment in a package offoil/paperboard or plastic construction.

It is believed that the present invention includes many otherembodiments that may not be herein described in detail, but wouldnonetheless be appreciated by those skilled in the art from thedisclosures made. Accordingly, this disclosure should not be read asbeing limited only to the foregoing examples or only to the designatedpreferred embodiments.

1-32. (canceled)
 33. An outer sleeve for receiving at least two slidecards, the outer sleeve comprising: a pair of first and second opposedside panels; a partition structure disposed between the first and secondside panels in a spaced parallel relationship with the first and secondside panels; a plurality of hinge panels interconnecting the first andsecond side panels and the partition structure such that a first chamberis defined between the first side panel and the partition structure toslidably and lockably receive at least one slide card and such that asecond chamber is defined between the second side panel and thepartition structure to slidably and lockably receive at least one slidecard; and a pair of inner panels positioned at least in part inside thefirst and second chambers respectively, each of the inner panelsincluding a slide card locking mechanism for releasably locking a slidecard in a locked position within a respective one of the first andsecond chambers, wherein each of the first and second side panelsincludes a release button positioned proximate the slide card lockingmechanism of a respective one of the inner panels.
 34. The outer sleeveof claim 33, wherein each of the first and second chambers has a closedend and an opposed open end, and wherein the open ends of the first andsecond chambers are located at the same end of the outer sleeve.
 35. Theouter sleeve of claim 33, wherein each of the first and second chambershas a closed end and an opposed open end, and wherein the open end ofthe first chamber is located at one end of the outer sleeve, and theopen end of the second chamber is located at the other end of the outersleeve.
 36. The outer sleeve of claim 33, wherein each of the first andsecond side panels is defined by a pair of oppose side edges and a pairof opposed end edges, and wherein one of the side edges of the firstside panel is hingedly connected to one of the side edges of the secondside panel through at least one of the hinge panels.
 37. The outersleeve of claim 36, wherein the inner panel in the first chamber ishingedly connected to one of the end edges of the first side panel, andwherein the inner panel in the second chamber is hingedly connected toone of the end edges of the second side panel.
 38. The outer sleeve ofclaim 36, wherein the inner panel in the first chamber is hingedlyconnected to the other of the side edges of the first side panel throughat least two of the hinge panels, and wherein the inner panel in thesecond chamber is hingedly connected to the other of the side edges ofthe second side panel through at least two of the hinge panels.
 39. Theouter sleeve of claim 38, wherein the partition structure comprises apair of partition panels disposed in face contacting relationship, theinner panel in the first chamber is hingedly connected to the first sidepanel further through one of the partition panels, and wherein the innerpanel in the second chamber is hingedly connected to the second sidepanel further through the other of the partition panels.
 40. The outersleeve of claim 33, wherein the partition structure comprises a pair ofpartition panels disposed in face contacting relationship, wherein oneof the partition panels and the first side panel are interconnected byat least two of the hinge panels to form a first sleeve unit, whereinthe other of the partition panels and the second side panel areinterconnected by at least two of the hinge panels to form a secondsleeve unit, and wherein first and second sleeve units define the firstand second chambers respectively.
 41. The outer sleeve of claim 40,wherein one of the at least two hinge panels of the first sleeve unit ishingedly connected to one of the at least two hinge panels of the secondsleeve unit such that first and second sleeve units are hingedlyconnected together.
 42. A blank for forming an outer sleeve for housinga plurality of slide cards, the blank comprising: a plurality of hingepanels; a pair of first and second side panels hingedly interconnectedby at least one of the hinge panels; at least one partition panel to bedisposed between the first and second side panels when the blank takesthe form of an outer sleeve such that first and second separate chambersare defined by the hinge panels, by the first and second side panels andby the at least one partition panel; and a pair of inner panels to bepositioned at least in part inside the first and second chambersrespectively when the blank takes the form of an outer sleeve, each ofthe inner panels including a slide card locking mechanism for releasablylocking a slide card in a locked position within a respective one of thefirst and second chambers, wherein each of the first and second sidepanels includes a release button positioned proximate the slide cardlocking mechanism of a respective one of the inner panels when the blanktakes the form of an outer sleeve.
 43. The blank of claim 42, whereineach of the first and second side panels is defined by a pair of opposeside edges and a pair of opposed end edges, and wherein one of the sideedges of the first side panel is hingedly connected to one of the sideedges of the second side panel through the at least one of the hingepanels.
 44. The blank of claim 43, wherein one of the inner panels ishingedly connected to one of the end edges of the first side panel, andwherein the other inner panel is hingedly connected to one of the endedges of the second side panel.
 45. The blank of claim 43, wherein oneof the inner panels is hingedly connected to the other of the side edgesof the first side panel through at least two of the hinge panels, andwherein the other inner panel is hingedly connected to the other of theside edges of the second side panel through at least two of the hingepanels.
 46. The blank of claim 45, wherein the at least one partitionpanel comprises a pair of partition panels, the one of the inner panelsis hingedly connected to the first side panel further through one of thepartition panels, and wherein the other inner panels is hingedlyconnected to the second side panel further through the other of thepartition panels.
 47. A packaging system comprising an outer sleeve anda plurality of slide cards received in the outer sleeve, the outersleeve comprising: a pair of first and second opposed side panels; apartition structure disposed between the first and second side panels ina spaced parallel relationship with the first and second side panels; aplurality of hinge panels interconnecting the first and second sidepanels and the partition structure such that a first chamber is definedbetween the first side panel and the partition and such that a secondchamber is defined between the second side panel and the partitionstructure, at least one of the slide cards being slidably and lockablyreceived in the first chamber, at least one of the slide cards beingslidably and lockably received in the second chamber; and a pair ofinner panels positioned at least in part inside the first and secondchambers respectively, each of the inner panels including a slide cardlocking mechanism for releasably locking the at least one of the slidecards in a respective one of the first and second chambers in a lockedposition, wherein each of the first and second side panels includes arelease button positioned proximate the slide card locking mechanism ofa respective one of the inner panels.
 48. The packaging system of claim47, wherein each of the first and second chambers has a closed end andan opposed open end, and wherein the open ends of the first and secondchambers are located at the same end of the outer sleeve.
 49. Thepackaging system of claim 47, wherein each of the first and secondchambers has a closed end and an opposed open end, and wherein the openend of the first chamber is located at one end of the outer sleeve, andthe open end of the second chamber is located at the other end of theouter sleeve.
 50. The packaging system of claim 47, wherein each of thefirst and second side panels is defined by a pair of oppose side edgesand a pair of opposed end edges, and wherein one of the side edges ofthe first side panel is hingedly connected to one of the side edges ofthe second side panel through at least one of the hinge panels.
 51. Thepackaging systems of claim 50, wherein the inner panel in the firstchamber is hingedly connected to one of the end edges of the first sidepanel, and wherein the inner panel in the second chamber is hingedlyconnected to one of the end edges of the second side panel.
 52. Thepackaging system of claim 50, wherein the inner panel in the firstchamber is hingedly connected to the other of the side edges of thefirst side panel through at least two of the hinge panels, and whereinthe inner panel in the second chamber is hingedly connected to the otherof the side edges of the second side panel through at least two of thehinge panels.